Fuse could be sold

DAZED & CON-FUSED: Madison Square Garden is weighing the future of low-rated Fuse, the N.Y. Post reports, citing inside sources. Among the options being considered for the struggling cable music network are selling all or part of it and bringing in new content partners in exchange for an equity stake. “They’ve received interest from various major media companies asking if there’s interest in a strategic partnership,” one source told Claire Atkinson. One idea being floated by outsiders is merging Fuse with AXS-TV, a live entertainment network backed by Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest and CAA. Last month, the channel rebranded its prime time programming, hiring Alexa Chung to front Fuse News, a show devoted to covering the music biz helmed by former CNN chief Rick Kaplan. Fuse is available in about 65 million homes, far less than MTV. Time Warner Cable dropped the channel from its lineup in a battle with MSG over programming fees. In addition, Fuse is facing fresh competition from VEVO, which just launched a fully programmed TV-like service. (3/22a)